Portland Police Bureau Mental Health Call Summary Since November 30

The Portland Police Bureau continues to respond to a number of calls for service related to people struggling in a mental health crisis. This summary is a sampling of some of the types of calls officers respond to on a daily basis.

The Portland Police Bureau wants you to know that help is available for community members struggling from a mental health crisis and/or suicidal thoughts.

Suicide is preventable.

Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare has an urgent walk-in clinic, open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Payment is not necessary.

If you or someone you know needs help with suicidal thoughts or is otherwise in an immediate mental health crisis, please visit Cascadia or call (503) 963-2575.

Lines for Life is available 24 hours a day at (503) 972-3456.

On November 30, 2012, North Precinct officers responded to the report of a woman threatening to jump off the Sandy Boulevard overpass onto Southbound I-205. Officers talked to the woman and convinced her to come back over the railing and go to the hospital.

On December 2, 2012, Central Precinct officers responded to the report of a man threatening suicide with a gun at a residence in the East Buckman neighborhood. Officers arrived and contacted the man's girlfriend outside, who brought the gun out to police in a locked box. Officers talked to the man on the phone and he agreed to come outside and go to the hospital.

On December 3, 2012, Central Precinct officers responded to Southwest 5th Avenue and Caruthers Street on the report of a male assaulting a female with a crowbar. Officers arrived and contacted the victim where police learned the weapon used was actually the victim's cane.

Officers learned that the man asked the victim for a cigarette and when she refused, he grabbed her cane and hit her several times, then left the area.

Officers located the man and placed him into custody. The victim did not want to press charges so the police took the man to a hospital for a mental health evaluation as he was displaying signs of a mental health crisis.

On December 4, 2012, North Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Humboldt neighborhood on the report of a man who was suicidal and armed with a knife. Officers arrived and evacuated the residence then began to attempt contact with the man by phone. After several attempts, the man answered the phone and agreed to come out and go to the hospital.

On December 5, 2012, East Precinct officers responded to the report of an attempted suicide in the Lents neighborhood.

Officers arrived in the area and found a naked man covered in blood. The man was in an excited state with an open wound on his chest, claiming that dogs were attacking and gnawing on him. The man was transported to the hospital for treatment to his injuries as well as a mental health evaluation.

On December 8, 2012, East Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood on the report of a suicidal male.

Officers contacted the man in his yard where they noticed he had black tubing connected to his vehicle exhaust pipe running into the window of his car. The man also claimed to have a knife. Officers talked with the man and he eventually agreed to surrender to police and go to the hospital.

On December 8, 2012, Central Precinct officers responded to a residence on Southwest Garden Home Road on the report of shots fired. Officers arrived and spoke with the 9-1-1 caller on the phone who admitted that she was drinking and was depressed and as she was contemplating suicide by firearm, she accidentally fired a shot.

The woman surrendered to police and agreed to go to the hospital and officers seized the firearm.

On December 10, 2012, East Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood on the report of a suicidal male who shot himself in the chest.

Officers arrived and made contact with the man to establish a safe way to get the man medical treatment. Officers and medical personnel were able to gain entry to the residence and get the man transported to a hospital for treatment to his injuries as well as a mental health evaluation.

Officers seized the gun as evidence.

On December 11, 2012, North Precinct officers responded to the report of a suicide in the Overlook neighborhood. Officers arrived in Overlook Park and found a man who hanged himself from a tree in the park. Medical personnel responded and confirmed that the man was deceased.

On December 14, 2012, North Precinct officers responded to the Lloyd Center Sears store on the report of a former employee using the public address system to make threats and other incoherent statements. Officers arrived and placed the man into protective custody as he was suffering from a mental health crisis. The man was taken to the hospital for treatment.

On December 14, 2012, Central Precinct officers responded to a residence in the East Buckman neighborhood on the report of a suicidal female armed with knives. Officers arrived and the woman ran into the garage and retrieved two machetes then climbed into the attic of the garage. Officers talked with the woman and she eventually agreed to drop the machetes and go to the hospital.

On December 17, 2012, Central Precinct officers responded to Southwest 6th Avenue and Washington Street on the report of a man who jumped to his death from the parking structure on the corner. Officers and medical personnel arrived and confirmed that the man was deceased.

On December 18, 2012, East Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood on the report of a suicide. Officers and medical personnel arrived and confirmed that the adult male was deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

On December 15, 2012, North Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Portsmouth neighborhood on the report of a sword-wielding man preventing firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue from dousing flames at the man's home.

The man was swinging a sword and holding a shield when officers arrived and was refusing commands to drop the sword so officers tased him and pulled him to safety, allowing firefighters to fight the fire. The man was taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.

On December 24, 2012, North Precinct officers responded to the Weidler Avenue overpass above I-5 on the report of a man threatening to jump. After several hours of attempting to talk with the man, the man agreed to come down and go to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.

On December 28, 2012, North Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Concordia neighborhood on the report of a male sitting on the porch with a gun to his head. Officers arrived in the area and learned that the man no longer had the gun. Officers visually confirmed that the man was not armed then made contact with him on the porch. The man was taken into protective custody and taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. Officers took the handgun for safekeeping.

On December 30, 2012, East Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Foster-Powell neighborhood on the report of an attempted suicide with a knife.

Officers and medical personnel arrived and located the man who had several self-inflicted stab wounds. The man told police he heard voices telling him to stab himself to remove demons.

The man was transported to the hospital for treatment for his stab wounds and a mental health evaluation.

On December 30, 2012, East Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Russell neighborhood to check on a patient who walked away from the VA Hospital. Officers made contact with the man and convinced him to return to the hospital for treatment.

On December 31, 2012, East Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Mill Park neighborhood on the report of a suicidal male. Officers contacted the man who expressed suicidal thoughts to the officers. The man was taken into protective custody and taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.

On January 2, 2013, Central Precinct officers responded to a residence in Ladd's Addition on the report of a suicide. Officers arrived and spoke to a man who arrived home to find his girlfriend committed suicide by hanging. Detectives and the Medical Examiner responded and determined that it was a suicide.

On January 2, 2013, Central Precinct officers responded to a Downtown residence three separate times on a welfare check call of an armed suicidal male under the influence of a variety of intoxicants. Officers determined the man was not presently threatening anyone and left him to sober up alone in his residence. A fourth call came in about the same man "huffing" from canned air in the area of Southwest 20th Avenue and Morrison Street. Officers arrived and the man was arrested for Possession of Inhalants and his case was referred to the Mobile Crisis Unit. This same man was contacted again on January 10, 2013 regarding a disturbance at his residence and he was arrested for various misdemeanor crimes. Additional documentation was given to the Mobile Crisis Unit for follow-up.

On January 5, 2013, East Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Montavilla neighborhood on the report of a juvenile male suffering from a mental crisis and armed with a knife. Officers arrived and contacted the juvenile, who dropped the knife, then was placed into protective custody and taken to a Portland hospital.

On January 5, 2013, North Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Piedmont neighborhood on the report of a man threatening to cut himself with a knife. When officers arrived, the man exited the residence and held a pizza cutter to his wrist. Officers were able to talk with the man and get him calmed down. The man dropped the pizza cutter and officers took him into protective custody without incident and transported him to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.

On January 5, 2013, Central Precinct officers responded to a motel in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood on the report of a suicide. Officers arrived and spoke to a woman who told police that her boyfriend shot himself in the head after they argued.

On January 8, 2013, East Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Parkrose Heights neighborhood on the report of an 82-year-old woman waving a gun around. Officers arrived and learned that a neighbor retrieved the gun from the woman and secured it. Officers talked with the 82-year-old woman who was suffering from an extreme mental health crisis and convinced her to go to the hospital. The gun was taken by police for safekeeping.

On January 8, 2013, East Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Foster-Powell neighborhood on the report of a suicide. Officers arrived and learned that a man committed suicide by hanging after recently struggling with mental health issues.

On January 14, 2013, East Precinct officers responded to a residence in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood on the report of people trying to break into the residence. Officers contacted the resident and determined that nobody was trying to break in and that the man was suffering from ongoing mental health issues.

Officers responded to a second call at the location and the man yelled down to officers from an upstairs window, where he suddenly raised a 12" knife, told his family to get back, and then attempted to jump from the window. The man's family grabbed onto him as he continued to make several attempts to jump out of the window. Officers eventually were able to enter the residence and convince the man to be taken into protective custody and be taken to the hospital.